Red Rock Canyon: the complete visitor guide from Las Vegas
By the ThingsVegas Editorial Team | Published November 5, 2026 | Last reviewed: November 5, 2026
Red Rock is the closest real desert to the Strip, 17 miles west and about 30 minutes by car, and it has one rule visitors miss: in season you need a timed entry reservation to drive the loop. Book it on Recreation.gov, pay $20 per car at the gate, and go before 9 AM.
Prices last checked: November 5, 2026. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026. Sources are named on this page; check the official page before you pay, because prices and hours change.
Do I need a reservation? Check your plan
Timed entry applies October 1 to May 31, for entry between 8 AM and 5 PM. Pick your month and entry time.
Month: Entry time:
Yes. Book a timed entry slot on Recreation.gov ($2) and pay the $20 car fee at the gate.
What are the current fees and passes?
| Entry | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Car or truck, 1 day | $20 per vehicle | Current figure, Southern Nevada Conservancy, checked November 2026 |
| Motorcycle | $10 | |
| Bicycle | $8 | Cyclists are exempt from the timed entry reservation |
| Pedestrian | $5 | Walk in visitors are exempt from the reservation |
| Red Rock Annual Pass | $50 | Covers entry for a year; the $2 reservation still applies in season |
| America the Beautiful | $80 US residents | Accepted here; the Conservancy fee page lists the nonresident annual at $250 |
| Timed entry reservation, in season | $2 | On Recreation.gov, on top of the entry fee |
The Bureau of Land Management runs the conservation area: 195,819 acres of Mojave Desert at the western edge of the city. The fee figure is the trap on this page. The car fee rose to $20, and a large share of the pages ranking for Red Rock still print the old $15. The Southern Nevada Conservancy, which runs the Visitor Center for the BLM, lists $20 per car in its current fee schedule, and that is the figure to hand the gate.
How does the timed entry reservation work, step by step?
One, create the booking on Recreation.gov for the Scenic Drive, choosing your date and entry slot. Two, know the release rhythm: slots open 30 days ahead at 7 AM Pacific, and a second release lands 2 days ahead at 7 AM Pacific, so a sold out date is worth one more check two mornings before. Three, pay the $2 reservation fee online; the entrance fee itself is paid at the gate or covered by your pass. Four, download or print the reservation before you drive out, because the Conservancy and Recreation.gov both warn that cell service at the gate is limited. Five, arrive inside your slot. Fee free days in season still require the reservation. The one group the system does not touch: cyclists and walk in visitors are exempt.
What does the Scenic Drive day look like?
The drive is a 13 mile one way loop that opens at 6 AM daily. Closing moves with the light: 5 PM from November to February, 7 PM in March and October, 8 PM from April to September. The Visitor Center keeps 8 AM to 4:30 PM daily. The busiest window is 9 AM to 3 PM on in season weekends, which is why the strongest version of this trip is unglamorous: enter at 7 AM, hike in cool air, and be eating lunch back in the city while the gate line peaks. First hikes are Calico Tanks, a climb to a natural tank with a view back over the city, and Ice Box Canyon, a shaded box canyon with a seasonal waterfall after wet weather. Both trailheads sit on the loop, and both are named as the standard first picks across current guides.
Drive yourself or take a tour?
Self drive is cheap and flexible, and it puts the reservation, the $2 fee and the download before you go discipline on you. A guided tour from Las Vegas handles the reservation and the entrance as part of the product, which is the real product being sold. Compare current departures on Viator's Las Vegas day trips page. For the sibling comparison every visitor asks about: Red Rock needs a timed reservation and sits 30 minutes away; Valley of Fire needs no reservation, sits an hour away, and closes entirely December 1 to 14, which our Valley of Fire guide covers from the wedding side. The wider set, Zion, the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon included, lives on our day trips hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a reservation for Red Rock Canyon?
In season, yes. From October 1 to May 31, vehicles entering the Scenic Drive between 8 AM and 5 PM need a timed entry reservation booked on Recreation.gov, per the Bureau of Land Management and the Southern Nevada Conservancy. The reservation fee is $2 and it is separate from the entrance fee. Before 8 AM or after 5 PM, and all summer, no reservation is needed.
How much does Red Rock Canyon cost in 2026?
$20 per car, $10 per motorcycle, $8 per bicycle and $5 per pedestrian, per the Southern Nevada Conservancy fee schedule checked November 5, 2026. The Red Rock Annual Pass is $50, and America the Beautiful passes are accepted. Older pages showing a $15 car fee are out of date; $20 is the current figure.
What are the Scenic Drive hours?
The 13 mile one way Scenic Drive opens at 6 AM daily. Closing is 5 PM from November to February, 7 PM in March and October, and 8 PM from April to September. The Visitor Center is open 8 AM to 4:30 PM daily. In timed entry season the reservation window, 8 AM to 5 PM, sits inside those hours, so a late entry still needs the drive's closing time respected.
When do timed entry slots open, and what if they are gone?
Slots release 30 days ahead at 7 AM Pacific on Recreation.gov, with more released 2 days ahead at 7 AM Pacific. Pass holders still need the reservation and still pay the $2 fee. If your slot is gone, the honest workarounds are entering before 8 AM, entering after 5 PM within drive hours, or taking a guided tour, because the operator handles the reservation and the fee.
What should a first visit actually do?
Drive the full 13 mile loop once without stopping, then loop your attention to two hikes: Calico Tanks for the climb and the city view, and Ice Box Canyon for shade and the seasonal waterfall. Both are the standard first picks in current guides. Download or print your reservation before you leave the city, because cell service at the gate is limited and the busiest window is 9 AM to 3 PM on in season weekends.